Musical instrument.



Patented Nev. 6, I900.

c. HOGREBE. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Feb. 12, 1900.

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No.. 66|,3|2'. Patanted Nov. 6, I900.

c. HOGREB E. MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

(Application filed Feb 12, 1900.)

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1N0. 66l,3l2. Patented Nov. 6,-1900.

, c. HOGBEBE. MUS IGAL INSTRUMENT.

(Applicntion filed Feb. 12, 1960.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTIAN I'IOGREBE, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

MUSICAL lNSTRUMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,312. dated November 6, 1900.

Application filed February 12,1900. Serial No. 4,913. No model.)

To all wimnt it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN HoGREBE, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Musical Instruments, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to musical instruments; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of myimproved musical instrument with the cover removed. Fig. 2 is a side elevation. Fig. 3 is a front view. Fig. 4 is a sectional View showing the arrangement of the keys and picks. Fig. 5 is a view of the device folded within a case, the case being shown in section. Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view in perspective of a part of the keyboard and pick-operating mechanism. Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the arm connecting the treadle with the drive-wheel. Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the mechanism supporting the driving-wheel.

In the construction of this invention I provide suitable supports 1, pivotally secured to the upper end of each of which is a horizontal support 2, rigidly carried upon which is the body 3 of the instrument. The sides of the body are cut away at their forward ends 4, in which end of the body the keyboard is carried. l/Vithin the body 3 in the rear of the keyboard is carried a cithern 5 of the usual construction and which is rigidly secured in any suitable manner to the body 3, so that it may not become accidentally displaced, and thereby cause a discord in the music or otherwise inconvenience the person operating the device. Rigidly carried by the sides of the body, near the forward end thereof, in front of the eithern 5 is a transverse strip 6, the same being held a suitable height above the bottom of the body. Secured to the inner side of the said strip is another strip 7, through which at suitable intervals is a plurality of apertures 8, there being one of said apertures for each unison set of springs. Projecting into each of the said apertures is a suitably-bent wire 9, all of which assume a horizontal position above the strip 7 and project rearwardly a suitable distance over the cithern 5. Each of the said wires carries on its rear end a pick 10, of any suitable ma terial, the said picks projecting downwardly through apertures 11 in the reciprocating frame 12. The said wires are normally held at a height sufficient tohold the picks out of contact with the strings of the cithern by means of the leaf-springs 13, the same being carried by the reciprocating frame 12, and are prevented from being depressed too far by the set-screws 14. The said reciprocating frame is provided on each end with one or more pins 15, rigidly secured thereto andop eratingin bearings 16 in the sides ofthe body 1.

Pivotally secured to one end of the reciprocating frame 12 is a short rod or shaft 17, connected at its outer end to a crank 18, rigidly carried on the crank-shaft 19, the same being journaled in bearings 20, carried by the side of the body 1. Keyed upon the shaft 19 between the bearings 20 are a balancewheel 21 and a belt-pulley 22, around which passes a belt 23 and around a suitable drivewheel 24. The said drive-wheel is removably carried on the gudgeon 25, carried by the lower end of the strip 26, pivotally secured to the under side of the body 3 by means of the hinge 27. Secured to the under side of the body 3 at a suitable distance to the rear of the strip 26 is a leaf-spring 28, carrying on its free end the strip 29, on the lower end of which is a metallic strip 30. The said metallic strip is provided with an aperture in which the pin 31, rigidly carried by the lower end of the strip 26, engages when the device is in use. It is retained in this adjustment by means of the strip 32 and the pin 33, the said pin being engaged under the strip 29, Fig. 2. The drive-wheel is driven by the foot-lever 34 and the rod 35, the said rod being pivotally secured upon the pin 36, carried by the said drive-wheel. The upper end of the rod 35 comprises a block of two parts 37 3S, pivotally secured together by the hinge 39 and locked when in use by the apertured latch-spring 40 engaging with the pin 41. The belt 23 is held in position around the pulley 22 and the drive-wheel 24 by means of an idler 42.

The keys 43 are pivotally carried on a rod 44, supported by any suitable means, as by bearings 45. The said keys are normally held elevated by the springs 46 and may be compressed by pressing on their upper surface, but will again assume their elevated position when the pressure is removed. hen the keys are so compressed, their rear ends are elevated and push upwardly the forward ends of the blocks 47. The said blocks 47 are carried on the shaft 48, supported by the posts 49, and when their forward ends are elevated their rear ends are brought lower, Fig. t. This operation draws downwardly the wire connections 50, connected at their lower ends to the rear ends of the blocks 47 and at their upper ends to the set-collars 51, carried on the wires 9. Vhen this operation is performed, the picks 10 are necessarily depressed and being reciprocated rapidly contact with the wires and produce the music. When the pressure from the keys is removed, the picks are instantly raised out of contact with the wires by the springs 13, but maybe again depressed and brought into contact by repeating the operation.

Fig. 5 shows the instrument folded and placed within a suitable case for carrying. Then it is desired to fold it, the longitudinal brace 52 is removed, the supports 1 are folded inwardly, the drive-wheel is removed from its support, and the frame supporting it is folded, all as shown in Fig. 5. hen so folded,the device occupies very little space and may be very easily and conveniently carried from place to place. The top of the body 1 consists of the lid or door 53, held in position by means of hinges at its rear end. iVhen desired, the forward end may be raised and held by means of the supports 5%, provided for that purpose.

An instrument constructed in accordance with the above principles is simple and presents many advantages over other devices of this kind.

I claim 1. A device of the class described, comprising a body, a cithern carried in said body, a strip supported by said body, means for reciprocating said strip, wires supported by the forward end of said body, picks carried by said wires, and means whereby said picks are operated when the said reciprocating strip is moved, substantially as specified.-

2. A device of the class described, comprising a body, a cilhern carried in said body, a plurality of picks supported in the forward end of said body, a strip supported in said body, a foot-lever, connections between said foot-lever and said strip, and means whereby the picks are moved by the operation of said strip, substantially as specified.

3. A device of the class described, com prising a body, a cithern carried in said body, a reciprocating strip supported by said body above the said cithern, a strip carried by the forward end of said body in front of the firstmentioned strip, wires carried by said forward strip, picks carried by said wires and projecting through apertures in the first-mentioned strip, levers for operating said picks, keys for operating said levers, and means for operating the said reciprocating strip, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHRISTIAN IIOGREB'E.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIoKs, J. D. RIPPEY. 

